Herb & Citrus Roasted Potatoes

As I write this post, I recall something I read from Mark Bittman about potatoes. . .it may have been one of his blog posts a while back, maybe referencing content in his How to Cook Everything book, but I’m not sure. He wrote: “There are the up-and-coming root vegetables with near-celebrity status — celeriac, parsnips, beets — and then there is the potato. Simultaneously beloved and despised, the potato is our most-grown and most-eaten vegetable and the one that is sometimes seen as a leading villain in the obesity pandemic.”

Well, being ‘simultaneously beloved and despised’ is not a good place to be but, like with all things, the key is to enjoy potatoes in moderation.

I don’t usually cook potatoes unless it’s a special occasion, but when I do, they have to be really good. Roasting is one of my favorite methods because the process yields crunchy outsides, creamy insides and tasty flavors all around. And even though it wasn’t a ‘special occasion’ last night, I made a small batch to go with our fresh Gulf shrimp (and veggies, of course!).

These potatoes were so good that I scarfed down at least six before even considering offering any to my husband. That’s right — directly off the baking sheet. I have no regrets, either. . .I would do it again in a heartbeat!

See all those browned edges, with little specks of salt and delicious herbs? How can you resist that?

Oh, how I love thee, tiny, tasty potatoes.

So, the next time you get a craving for some ‘beloved and despised’ treats, try roasting them with this herb salt. But I suggest making a few extra for your ‘singular snacking’ time.